Kidney Stones & Treatment
Kidney stones can cause severe pain and usually requires quick attention from urologists. You can find here that how to prevent or get the best kidney stone treatment in Noida or Delhi – NCR.
Kidney Stones is a painful condition marked by the formation of stones that obstruct the urinary system.
Popularly known as a kidney stone, this hardened formation can arise in the kidneys and clog another point in the urinary canal. As the ureter, the channel that carries urine to the bladder, is very narrow, the hardened formed particle get stuck. As a result of the expulsion attempt, intense pain arise.
The kidneys function as two major blood filters in human body. In addition to water to form urine, they retain various elements, such as calcium, uric acid and oxalate. When these molecules appear in large quantities and there is little liquid to dissolve them, crystals or aggregates appear that swell and turn the calculations. Their size varies widely.
There is also a fourth type of stone, more rare, struvite. Unlike the others, it affects mainly women . Its origin is associated with an infection caused by the bacterium Proteus Mirabilis, which alters the pH of the urine, facilitating the aggregation of particles of magnesium, phosphate and ammonia.
The formation can reach 11 centimeters, occupying the entire space of the kidney. As it is softer, the pee can pass through it and so there is no pain. A danger, because the problem is not noticed and is prolonged – and the kidney can end up seriously affected.
Signs and symptoms
- Colic that starts in the lower back and migrates to other areas – Pain in the lower abdomen
- Blood in the urine
- Nausea and vomiting
- Willingness and peeing all the time
Risk factors
- Abuse of salt in the diet
- Excessive intake of foods rich in calcium and proteins
- Little liquid in the diet
- High temperatures (too much perspiration and lack of adequate hydration make the urine more concentrated, increasing the agglomeration of the particles)
- Obesity
- Hypertension
- Genetic predisposition
Prevention
Diet is a major factor in controlling the problem . To avoid crystallization of salts, the body needs water, so one of the first rules is to drink plenty of fluids. One way to check if the quantity is sufficient is to pay attention to the color of the pee , which should be light – if it is yellow, it means that it is very concentrated and can promote the formation of stones.
Handling in salt, sausages (such as sausage, sausage and salami), canned food and instant noodles is another recommended measure. Foods with a high content of oxalate (spinach, nuts, pepper and black tea, for example) also require moderation, when there is already a propensity for stones of this type. People with a high concentration of uric acid in their blood should also reduce their intake of beer, red meat and seafood, as they raise the rates even further.
Some experts even recommend caution with calcium supplements. The mineral is important for the body, but supplementation can only be done with medical advice. Otherwise, overload can result in the kidney problem.
The diagnosis
The intense pain caused by calculations in general is the starting point for detecting the problem. Urine that is too dense and dark or with blood spots is another warning sign. Laboratory tests of the pee analyze the acidity and the presence of crystals or infection.
To investigate the type of stone and the location where it is parked, the doctor orders a CT scan. X-ray and ultrasound are other options. Because they are transparent, stones formed by uric acid do not appear in these tests. Helical tomography is a resource to detect this type of mass. More invasive procedures, excretory and intravenous urography are done with an injection of dye to map the area and detect minor stones and other important changes in the urinary tract.
Treatments
When small, the vast majority of kidney stones are expelled naturally by the body. However, contrary to what was believed, the increase in fluid intake in an exaggerated way can aggravate the case of pain if the stone is unable to expel naturally as it can increase the pressure of urine in the kidney.
Usually treatment is given by the administration of medications during the crisis, powerful painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs to relieve pain that is acute and extremely strong. Other types of treatment can also be used, depending on the size of the stone, such as lithotripsy, that is, bombardment of the stones by shock waves aiming at the fragmentation of the stone, which makes its elimination through urine easier. Another option is percutaneous or endoscopic surgery, the stone can be removed from the kidneys after fragmentation. In addition to ureteroscopy, which, through endoscopy, allows the removal of stones located in the ureter.
It is important to emphasize that the prevention of calculus with re-education of habits is always the best solution. Drinking two or three liters of water a day is one of the most effective measures. In addition to it, we can highlight the control of foods rich in protein and calcium, they also help, especially if the stones are formed by excess uric acid or calcium.
In any of the situations, it is important that the diagnosis and treatment is given by a specialist in urology, since only he will be able to better understand the case and prescribe the best treatment.